Thirty-Six and a Half Motives: Rose Gardner Mystery #9 (Rose Gardner Mystery Series) (30 page)

Taking a deep breath, I told myself to calm down. I’d been in situations just as bad as this one, and everything had turned out fine.

I tromped around the back of the building, hoping that climbing through the window would give me an element of surprise. A soft glow flickered as I approached the broken-out windows. I peered around the corner and saw Kate sitting on top of a metal desk with her back to the opposite concrete wall. She’d shoved the other desks to the side walls and covered them in lit candles. There were also candles flickering on the floor on the opposite side of the room, a hundred or more of them in all.

Just like in my vision. A chill ran down my spine. Maybe I would die, but at least I saved Jed. Now I had to figure out how to save Skeeter.

From what I could tell, she looked to be alone. That was undoubtedly a good thing, because I caught her attention before I could make my surprise entrance.

She looked up and smiled. “Rose Petal, you’re the first to arrive. Come join me while we wait.”

I was fairly certain I could make it back to my car before she ever caught up, but what good would that do? Besides, for all I knew, J.R. could be pulling into the lot even now.

“Expectin’ other guests?” I asked, then stuck the bigger gun into the back of my jeans. Straddling the window, I climbed in.

Her grin spread. “I always did love a party, but I’m used to my guests using the front door.”

“Well,” I drawled, trying to decide where to stand. I really had no desire to play right into Kate’s plans, which meant I was going to have stay as far away from her as possible. “I’m not sure if you noticed, but I tend to do things a little different than everyone else.”

“I’ll say.” She sat with her denim-clad legs draped over the edge of that desk, her palms flat on the surface. I saw no evidence of a gun or any other weapon, but there was a crazed look in her eyes. She was wearing the same black, long-sleeved T-shirt as earlier, but there was a diamond ring I’d never seen before on her left ring finger.

“Who else is comin’?” I asked.

Her response was a smirk.

I took a few steps forward, trying to figure out her setup. The factory equipment—and the usual front door—was to my right. Henry Buchanan’s office was to my left, but the door was closed tonight, with a path between the desks to the center of her stage. I wasn’t too fond of having the window to my back, so I took a few steps toward the office wall. “What’s with all the candles? It looks like a cheesy episode of
Supernatural
. Havin’ a séance?”

She propped her arms behind her and leaned back her head, laughing. “I think we should wait until later for the séance . . . to connect with the newly departed.”

“Who are you planning on killin’?” I asked, deciding to take this head-on. Better to know a snippet of her plan going in, even if I was the one she planned to murder—something I highly suspected.

But where did the vision I’d just seen fit into all of this?

She leaned to the side and tried to look around me. “Where’s Neely Kate?”

My back stiffened, worried about what logical jump had led her from my question to my best friend. “Neely Kate couldn’t make it.”

She shook her head and tsked, then grabbed her phone and started tapping on the screen. “That just won’t do. I expected her to be your plus one. You two are like peanut butter and jelly.”

“We don’t do
everything
together.”

She glanced up and grinned. “Not to worry. I’m sure she’ll join us soon.”

I sure hoped not. I knew Jed would call Skeeter, but would he take the time to stop and pick them up? I was hoping for Skeeter to come alone. “Stop playin’ games, Kate, and just spit out what you want.”

“Now, now, Rosie.” She spread her hands out at her sides. “Games are what make life fun. Haven’t you learned anything from my family yet?” She winked. “We’re about to take this particular game to a whole new level tonight.”

How much did she know about Neely Kate’s parentage? Was she planning to hurt her? “What did you do with Anna and Bruce Wayne?”

Kate rolled her eyes. “Please.”

I steeled my back and used my most authoritative voice. “I want to know where they are, Kate.”

She shrugged. “I haven’t the foggiest idea, nor do I care.”

“Why did you kidnap Hilary?”

Shaking her head, she laughed. “You really are clueless, aren’t you? How did you ever manage to solve all those crimes?”

A clicking sound, like heels on concrete, echoed to my right, and I backed up toward the wall with the desks, my heart beginning to race.

“Did I hear my name?” Hilary asked, emerging from an aisle of equipment. She had changed into a pair of cream-colored pants, a flowy pale-blue silky shirt, and a low pair of cream leather pumps. Her auburn hair hung loose, but the sides were pulled back with clips decorated with clear stones. She stopped just outside the opening, her gaze fixed on Kate. Surprise filled her eyes as she shifted her attention to me. “
Rose.
” She turned back to Kate. “What is
she
doing here? When I got your text, I thought this was just you and me.”

“But . . .” I spat out in shock. “He put you in the car . . . I saw you get kidnapped.”

Confusion washed over Hilary’s face, but Kate chuckled. Then Sam Teagen moved out from behind Hilary, and I realized how wrong I’d been. My head swam as I took all the pieces I knew and tried to make them fit with this new realization.

Hilary laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you speechless before, Rose.”

“Sam Teagen . . .” I shook my head. “He works for . . .
you
?”

She walked closer to Kate’s setup, staying outside the ring of candles. “You know his name? Oh, dear. That
is
unfortunate.”

“Maybe I know more than Kate thinks I do.” Although I worried I didn’t know much at all. I was in big trouble. “Where’s J.R.?”

Hilary laughed, but it sounded bitter. “If I were you, I wouldn’t be in such a hurry to see him. He’s not too fond of you, and trust me, that’s not a situation you want to be in.”

I looked over at Kate to gauge her reaction, but she kept her attention on her newest guests.

“What is all this, Kate?” I asked.

She grinned. “All part of the game, Rosalina.”

“I’m not too crazy about games, so I think I’ll be goin’.” I took a step backward, but Kate’s gaze narrowed.

“You’re one of the guests of honor,” Kate cooed. “We can’t have you going anywhere.”

Did that mean she was working with her father after all? The evidence was supporting that theory.

But before I could ponder it all, Sam Teagen started toward me. I reached to the small of my back and pulled out Jed’s silver gun, which I then pointed at Teagen. “Come any closer and I’ll shoot you.”

He stopped and glared, his empty hand twitching at his side. The fact that he didn’t have a gun drawn meant he had underestimated me. Good.

His gaze darkened. “You try to shoot me, and I’ll make you suffer for these scars you put on my face.” He still sported healing scratch marks on his cheek. It sure had to be tough for a guy like him to go around with claw marks marring up his good looks.

Kate released a loud sigh. “Nobody’s shooting anyone . . . yet. There’s plenty of time for that later. We’ve got too much sharing to do first.”

“You said you were waiting for other guests,” I said, casting a quick glance at Kate without lifting my attention from Sam Teagen. I didn’t trust him for a minute, and I truly was prepared to shoot him. I’d come a long way from that scared girl who’d purposely let Daniel Crocker drag her to a private office. “Who else is coming?”

“It’s a surprise party, Rose Petal,” Kate said. “You’ll just have to wait and be surprised.”

I turned my attention to Hilary, though Sam Teagen was still in view. “Do
you
know?”

“How would I know?” Hilary asked. “I thought Kate had invited me to work out our differences. In the name of family unity.”

“In a deserted warehouse?” Kate laughed, but her annoyance was clear. “You always were so gullible.”

Scowling, Hilary crossed her arms, but she turned back to me. “Where’s Skeeter Malcolm? I thought he was your new shadow.”

“Why would she come with Malcolm?” Kate asked in confusion.

Hilary laughed. “Because Rose is the Lady in Black, of course. She’s Skeeter Malcolm’s little pet. He treasures her above all things.”

Kate shook her head. “The Lady in Black?
Rose Gardner?
”

“Didn’t you catch that she entrapped your father?”

“Yeah, but she was impersonating her.”

“Keep up, Kate. Rose Gardner
is
the Lady in Black,” Hilary said, her voice harsh. “She’s been working with Malcolm since the auction at Thanksgiving.” She rolled her eyes. “And you call
me
gullible.”

“Does Joe know?” Kate asked, sounding less confident.

“Joe doesn’t know a blessed thing.” Hilary flipped a strand of hair over her shoulder. “He still sees her as a blushing virgin.”

Kate turned livid and she jumped off the desk. “You’ve been making my brother look like a fool?”

Hilary took a step closer to the center of the room, walking between the candles on the floor. “What is this about, Kate? I know you have a personal vendetta against me, but why are we meeting here, and why is Rose along for the ride?”

Kate’s body shivered, and then she seemed to be back in control. “We’re not starting this yet.”

“If you’re waiting for J.R.,” Hilary said, “he’s not coming.”

Kate’s laughter had an unstable edge. “Oh, you stupid bitch. You don’t know
anything
.”

It was a sad day when someone looked loonier than Hilary. But then I’d totally underestimated Hilary. I’d never once suspected her of working with Sam Teagen—and the implications of that error were now becoming clear.

Common sense told me I should leave. I had a gun. I could make my escape, although I suspected Sam Teagen would have something to say about that. But as soon as that thought occurred to me, I dismissed it. I was done hiding. Last June, the old Rose had hidden naked in a linen closet, dripping wet and shaking with fear. But no more. I was done cowering. I was going to demand answers.

I gave Hilary a hard look. “You hired Sam Teagen to kidnap me. I thought it was Kate, but it was you.”

Hilary didn’t answer, but she didn’t gloat either.

Kate burst out laughing. “You thought
I
was the one behind your kidnapping?”

I ignored her, anger igniting in my chest. Months of frustration broke loose. “I understand why you wanted me dead, but why Mason?” I asked. “He never did anything to you.”

Hilary took two steps toward me, her eyes hard. “You have no idea about my past with Mason.”

My heart slammed into my chest. “He told me about the way you used him to get information about his sister.”

She shook her head. “No. He used me. Then he moved on to you.”

I fought the urge to panic. “How did he use you?”

Her eyes glittered with excitement. “That’s between me and Mason.”

The woman I was facing now was a far cry from the nearly hysterical woman I’d encountered this morning.

I was stuck in a creepy abandoned factory with two crazy women and a man who looked like he wanted to rip off my head with his bare hands. I was rethinking my strategy. But it was a little late for that. “There was nothing between you. You were the one to approach him at all the social events. You were the one who got information from him that led to Savannah’s death.”

Hilary shook her head. “Is that what he told you?”

Kate chuckled. “You really are naïve. Are you really falling for this?”

“Then tell me your side,” I coaxed. “We all know there’s no way you’ll let me walk out of this alive, so at least give me answers. No more secrets.”

“I agree. No more secrets.” A gun appeared out of the darkness of the gathered equipment, aimed at the back of Hilary’s head, and Skeeter walked into the light. “So answer the lady.”

If Hilary was afraid, she didn’t let on. A smile lit up her eyes even though her back was still to him. “I knew you’d show up.”

“And now I’m here, so someone better tell me what the hell is goin’ on.” He turned to Kate and gestured toward the room. “Is this your doin’?”

She sat back on the desk, her face lit up with glee. “It is.”

Skeeter pointed his gun at Kate. “Then that makes you the master of ceremonies. You better start talkin’.”

“I’ve been waiting for this night for two years, Mr. Malcolm. You can wait five minutes,” Kate said. The condescension was heavy in her voice. “You never were a patient man.”

Kate flicked a gaze at me. “James and I go
way
back.”

“When he worked for your father.”

She nodded, then turned her attention to Skeeter. “If you play this right, I’ll let you make it out alive.”

His shoulders stiffened. “Why?”

“Because I like you. I think we can work out some sort of arrangement.” The innuendo in her voice made it clear it wasn’t an above-board business deal.

Skeeter ignored her implication. “Then why’d you set this up for your daddy?”

The ring on her hand caught the light, and I said, “She set this up for her father, but not how you think, James. This is her revenge. Her revenge against her father for killing her fiancé, Nick.”

Skeeter gestured toward Sam Teagen. “So what’s this piece of trash doin’ here?”

“He’s my guest,” Hilary said. Then, before I realized what she was doing, she pulled a gun out of her fancy cream-colored purse and pointed it at me. “I’m going to need Sam handy, so don’t be getting any ideas about incapacitating him.”

I cursed myself for having turned my attention away from her. Then again, she was pregnant. And while she was a sociopath, her baby—Joe’s baby—was an innocent caught up in her madness. I wouldn’t shoot her even if she attacked me, and the satisfaction on her face told me that she knew it.

“Now,
James
,” she said, his given name clearly an insult on her lips. “I’m going to need you to put down the gun, or I’ll be forced to kill your Lady in Black. And Rose, you need to drop yours, too.” The saccharine sweetness in her voice nauseated me.